Play pen or yard



April 2, 1960 J. w. BARFORD 2,932,039

PLAY PEN OR YARD Filed April 23, less 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 111mm I :2 W 40 I6 Fl .2 18 g v John I Barford INVENTOR.

April 12, 1960 J. BARFORD PLAY PEN OR YARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1958 John m. Barf ord 1N VEN TOR.

PLAY PEN R YARD John W. Barford, Kinderhook, N .Y.,

Application April 23, 1958, Serial No. 730,294

4 Claims. (Cl. -99) This invention relates to'a folding play pen or yard and more particularly to improvements in the structure by which the play pen or yard is folded. An object of the invention is to provide a portable enclosure for children, the portable enclosure constituting a play pen or yard and having a pair of rigid sides in addition to a pair of sides that are each made of a pair of hingedly connected sections, the enclosure having new and improved structure for lifting the sectional bottom from the open position to the closed position at which the panels or sections of the bottom are approximately parallel to the rigid sides of the play pen.

A further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure as described above wherein the means for hingedly operating the panels of the bottom include a link that is pivoted together in sections and which folds automatically with the bringing together of the rigid sides of the play pen. This link is connected with a center supporting leg which is preferably provided with a caster. The leg is connected to an auxiliary support that has a pair of sections that are hingedly connected and which extend beneath the bottom when the bottom is in the opened position. This provides ample support for the bottom. Ordinarily play pens of the type which have a pair of hinged panels that serve as the bottom, are weak at the center. They are sufiiciently strong to support a child, but this is a point which is subject to failure during continued use. The invention overcomes this difiiculty in providing the additional support for the bottom.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Y Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an enclosure for United States Patent chil dren constructed inaccordance with the invention and showing the enclosure in the open position.v

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the bottom in the raised position.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view showing a further stage in the closing operation of the enclosure.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a detail of construction and taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

In the accompanying drawings there is a portable enclosure lltl commonly referred to as a play pen or play yard since it is designed for small children. The portable enclosure has two rigid sides 12 and 14 and two foldable sides 16 and 18. The sides are connected together at their ends by hinges. Hinges 20 and 22 connect foldable side 16 to the corresponding ends of rigid sides 12 and 14, while hinges 24 and 26 connect the ends of the foldable side 18 to the opposite ends of rigid sides 12 and 14. Each hinge consists of a vertical hinge pin, for example hinge pin 28 for hinge 20 together with hinge butts and hinge plates that are secured respectively 2,932,039 Patented Apr. 12,

to the sides with'which hinge 20 is connected. All sides are preferably made with vertical bars extending between the upper and' lower frame members of rectangular frames. Deviations in this construction can be made. In addition, it is not essential but preferred that there be four legs 34 at the corners of the enclosure and secured to the ends of the rigid sides 12 and 14. Casters 36 at the lower extremitiesof legs 34 are a further optional feature.

The bottom 3870f the enclosure is constructed of two sections or panels 40 and 42 and each is rectangular. Hinges '44- connect the outer edge of panel 40 with the lower frame member of side 12. Hinges 46 connect the ice outer edge of panel 42 with the lower frame member of side 14 whereby both panels are capable of swinging When in this position the two cleats 48 and 50 on the outer edges of pane1s'42'and 40 come to bear on a brace 52 that extends across the enclosure and islocated beneath the floor or bottom 38 thereof.

Brace 52 is made in two sections 54 and 56, and these are connected .together at their confronting ends by a hinge 58. The outer ends of the sections of brace 52 are attached by hinges 60 and 62 to the lower frame members of the rigid sides 12 and 14 respectively and at approximately the center thereof. The hinges are offset, each consisting of a hinge pin 63 passing through an opening in one of the lower frame members of the rigid sides and a swinging plate 64 that is attached to the hinge pin. This swinging plate is also attached to an outer end of the brace 52 so that the sections of the brace 52 are capable of folding as shown in Figure 4.

There are means for elevating the panels 40 and 42 when the user wishes to adjust the enclosure to the collapsed or closed position. These means consist of a treadle 68 that is attached by a curved arm 70 to a plate 72 on the bottom of panel 40. The arm is curved so that the treadle will'face approximately upwardly and present the pedal surface conveniently to the foot of the user. Linkage 74 operatively connects the plate 72 and hence panel 40 with panel 42' for simultaneous operation of both panels 40 and 42. The linkage consists of a bell crank 76 pivoted as at 77 to brace 52 near one that-are pivoted togeth'er by hinge 82. The end of link '78has a pivot 83 connecting it to lever-84. The lever is pivoted by a pin 85 intermediate the ends of the lever to a part of brace 52 near the end thereof adjacent to the hinge -46. Hinge 46 connects panel 42 to the rigid side 14. The extremity of lever 84 is free to ride on a wear plate 87 attached to the bottom surface of panel 42. Accordingly, upon depression of the treadle 68, the panel 40 is hingedly moved from the lowered position to the raised position and at the same time the linkage 74 pivots lever 84 and this has its outer extremity sliding along the bottom surface of wear plate 87. Due to the shape and dimensioning of the linkage, panel 42 is elevated simultaneously with the elevation of panel 40. In this condition (Figure 3) the user need only collapse the foldable sides 16 and 18 (Figure 4) hinging the linkage about hinge 73, in order to bring the rigid sides 12 and 14 together, and collapsing the entire enclosure. Linkage 74 is constrained in its movement by having part pass through a guide 89 that is attached to leg 90. The leg is rigidly secured to one section or part 54 of brace 52 and preferably but not necessarily has a caster 9.1 at its lower end. This. supportstthebrace vertically. The guide 89 cpnstrains the motion of the linkage, especially during operation of the treadle 68 and when'the enclosure is being collapsed. 1 To collapse the enclosure the foldable sides -16 an 18 have their center hinges .93 and 94 broken inwardly so that the sections of the foldable or sectional sides 16 and 18 can move toward each other while the rigid sides 12 and 14 are brought together to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4. To move'from the dotted line position of Figure '4 to the fullyopened position, .the reverse procedure takes place. That is, the sides 12 tand'14 are pulled apart until the sides 16 and 18 are fully extended. This automatically hingedly moves the parts-of brace 52 to the open-or extended position and ,also automatically moves the link 78 of linkage 74 to a correspondingly open position. Thereafter the hinged panels of the bottom of the enclosure are lowered on brace 52 thereby providing a very sturdy and substantial enclosure -for children.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, .since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. .A portable enclosure for children, said portable enclosure comprising a pair of rigid sides, a pair of foldable .sides, each of, said foldable sides consisting of two sections hingedly connected together at their confronting :inner ends, hinges connecting the outer ends'of said foldable sides to the outer ends of said rigid sections, a floor composed of two panels that are hinged at their outer longitudinal edges to said rigid sides, a brace extending across said rigid sides and having a pair of parts hingedly connected together, hinges connecting the ends of said brace to said rigid sides respectively, said brace constiwtuting a support for said panels, foot operated means for elevating both of said panels simultaneously, said foot operated means including a linkage attached to one of said panels and including a crank pivoted to said brace, a link connecting one end of said crank to one of .said panels, a foldable link connected to the opposite end of .said crank, a lever attached to said foldable link, and

'- aasaoae means operatively connecting the outer. end of said lever V posed of twopanels that are hinged at their outer longitudinal edges to said rigid sides, said panels having disconnected confronting longitudinal edges, a brace extending across said rigid sides and having a pair of parts hingedly connected together, said brace having a portion 1 disposed beneath and supporting the disconnected confronting edges of said panels, hinges connecting the ends of said brace to said rigid sides respectively at a place spaced inwardly from the hinge connection of both of said foldable sides with said rigid sides, mechanical means for elevating both of said panels simultaneously and including a linkage attached to one of said panels, said linkage having a crank pivoted to said brace, a link connecting one end of said crank to one of said panels, a foldable link connected to the opposite end of said crank, a lever attached to said foldable link, means operatively connecting the outer end of said lever to the other of said panels, a leg attached to said brace and located between the ends of said brace to provide additional support for said brace, and means between the ends of said foldable link for constraining the 'endwise movement of said foldable .link.

3. A portable enclosure for children, said portable enclosure comprising a pair of rigid sides, a pair of foldable sides, each of said foldable sides consisting of two sections hingedly connected together at their confronting inner ends, hinges connecting the outer ends of said foldable sides to the outer ends of said rigid sections, a floor composed of two panels that are hinged at their outer longitudinal edges to said rigid sides, a brace extending across said rigid sides and having a pair of parts hingedly connected together, hinges connecting the ends of said brace to said rigid sides respectively, said brace constituting a support for said panels, means for elevating both of said panels simultaneously, said elevating means in- .cluding a linkage attached to one of said panels and including a crank pivoted to said brace, a link connecting "one end of said crank to one of said panels, a foldable --link connected to the opposite end of said crank, a lever attached to said foldable link, and means operatively connecting the outer end of said lever to the other of said panels.

4-. The portable enclosure of claim 3 wherein said link connecting said one end of said crank to one of said panels has a hinge attached to said one panel, and a pivot connecting said hinge to said link so that said link is hingedly movable with respect to said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

